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Ideal Platform to Launch Emerging Researchers

Ideal Platform to Launch Emerging Researchers

The opening of Durban University of Technology’s first inter-disciplinary Research and Postgraduate Conference 2016 was well received, as it brought together researchers, postgraduate students and academics from across Africa to exchange ideas and strategies.

This focused on science, technology and research, and was viewed as important for building human capacity in terms of post-graduate research.

In attendance were DUT’s Prof Sibusiso Moyo – Research and Postgraduate Support Directorate Director, Conference Chair, Jamila K Adam, Dr Henrietta Van Den Berg, Director of Research Development, University of Free State, South Africa, DUT’s Executive President of the Postgraduate Association, Kunle Oparinde, and DUT’s Dr Rapeane Maleshoane Mathonsi, to name but a few.

Prof Moyo welcomed the delegates by saying that DUT valued the role it played in contributing to human capital development both at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

“Our postgraduate numbers currently account for 3% of the total student population, which is approximately 25630. This percentage has grown steadily from 2010 and it is one we would like to see grow to between 7 and 10% in the next few years,” she said.

Prof Moyo added that such a conference created a platform for engagement and gave an opportunity to participants to share in generating new applicable knowledge and ideas, new networks and partnerships.

Guest of honour, Thokozile Didiza, MP, House Chairperson on Internal Arrangements South African Parliament, was unable to attend the conference and in absentia, DUT’s Dr Rapeane Maleshoane Mathonsi, Arts and Design Faculty Research Coordinator, delivered her speech at the conference.

According to Didiza’s speech, there’s a need for the development of more postgraduates to undertake research. She reiterated suggestions that could be looked at during the conference, such as understanding Africa’s developmental challenges and opportunities, strong and visionary leadership, an increased investment in postgraduate studies, expert supervisors and more research funding.

Didiza holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree from the University of South Africa. She obtained her Master’s in Tertiary Education Management from the University of Melbourne in Australia. She is currently the House Chairperson responsible for internal arrangements in Parliament and also serves as the Acting Chairperson and the Acting Vice-Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians.

Keynote speaker, Dr Henrietta Van Den Berg, Director of Research Development, University of Free State spoke about her experience in the development of programmes to support the professional and personal development of highly-skilled workers.She focused on human capacity development through postgraduate research for sustainable development in Africa.

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“In these times, when there are so many challenges that face us, we (universities) know that we have a very big target that we have to reach, a target that focuses on increasing the doctoral output by six fold, and if we want to come close to that target, we need to find new, innovative ways in assisting our postgraduate students but also universities to find different ways to be successful,” she said.
She also spoke of looking at ways that universities could collaborate to strengthen postgraduate skills development and how each and every one could help contribute to his or her own development through a process of intentional growth. “I believe the best way for researchers is if we (universities) build a sustainable development between researchers and the community, as well as develop a network of technical skills.

“If we (universities) really want to improve the quality of education, there is a need to look at putting consistent structures in place and becoming the river of knowledge and experience,” she said.
Dr Van Den Berg is a registered counselling psychologist who specialises in talent management and workplace wellness. During the last four years, she has developed various capacity development and mentoring programmes for early-career researchers, as well as established the South African Postgraduate Forum in 2015.
Also on day one of the event various students were given the opportunity to do academic presentations, ending the day with a gala dinner for the local and international guests.

The schedule for the following days included further presentations and talks, as well as a lecture by DUT’s Prof S Davies on responsible research for the postgraduate student, stressing the importance of ethics and the dangers of sharp practice.

Pictured: Keynote speaker, Dr Henrietta Van Den Berg, Director of Research Development, University of Free State, South Africa, at the conference.

Pictured: Delegates attending the first Interdisciplinary Research and Postgraduate Conference 2016

—Waheeda Peters

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